A major perk of my pal’s new job is the location; she’s thrilled she can bike or even walk the three miles to work. She says the jaunt has done wonders for her mood—not to mention her thighs—and she’s ecstatic to leave her car back home.
Too bad more Tucsonans don’t share her glee.
A goodly number of folks seem tied to their vehicles so tightly that you know they won’t dare leave home without them. Their ties bind strong, perhaps even leading into the realm of an obsession or, worse yet, a veritable addiction.
This addiction runs so deep in their octane veins that some get downright cranky when the mere thought of not being able to drive arises. This was firmly evidenced by several reactions to the idea of making Congress Street through downtown a pedestrian-only zone.
Some would simply not have it, tossing reasons about like confetti. But there may be deeper, underlying issues at work as to why some would feel naked without their cars.
The most obvious may be that people are generally getting lazier. Obesity rates back that one up, with at least 35 percent of the nation weighing in as obese in 2010.
Getting anywhere without a car means people will have to actually do that strange thing called walking. Refer to the strange activity as “exercise,” and we may get a full-fledged riot on our hands (provided, of course, that people could riot from a sitting position in their vehicles).
Another reason is the sense of security a vehicle brings. Walking makes people exposed and vulnerable. Driving encases them in at least 3,000 pounds of armor, even if the armor these days is largely polyurethane plastic.
Rather than being on display, motorists can hide inside their vehicles and be rude, obnoxious and dangerous with less of a fear of repercussions.
The shield of polyurethane lets them take on numerous roles in which they may otherwise feel foolish. The Lane Hog. The Road Rager. The Willy-Nilly Merger. The Sudden, Unexplained Stopper. If people tried out those roles without vehicular protection, they might find themselves punched in the head.
More security comes from the vehicle’s glove-box compartment and trunk, where folks can store other items they cannot leave home without. The backup shoes. The wrench. The expansive collection of non-working pens. The fresh pair of socks. The Altoids.
The sense of security can easily morph into an irrational attachment, the way Linus van Pelt is attached to his blanket. Without his little blue blanket, Linus is lost, confused and paranoid. But then again, he’s kind of like that even with the blanket.
The blanket is warm and cozy; a vehicle can provide a large amount of comfort, too. Driving around with air conditioning is exceedingly more comfortable than trudging on foot in 112-degree heat. In fact, the most-blazing summer days often seem to have the most cars on the road, leading me to believe people are driving around in cooled-off cars because their home air-conditioning unit has gone kablooey.
Status and symbolism may be another reason behind an extreme attachment to vehicles. Cars, trucks and monster SUVs are rolling billboards that showcase your wealth, style or midlife crises. They also illustrate your eco-friendliness if you’re driving a hybrid, your machismo in a Hummer, and your cool disdain of everyone around you with bumper stickers that read things like: “Horn broken, watch for finger.”
Big cars can display a big ego while those dinky, roller-skate-looking things show a free spirit, or at least someone who has neither kids nor dogs.
Cars stream about Tucson consistently, making us wonder where all these people are going. Last month’s national unemployment rate was at less than 9 percent, but it’s tough to imagine all those drivers having such widely staggered work hours.
There’s no arguing that autos can provide, in theory, a faster way to get from point A to point B. But that theory doesn’t work when a 10-mile ride can take more than an hour.
For those who are so auto-bound they must drive around Tucson for pleasure, we’d hate to see what they do for torture. But we can bet that whatever it is, they do it in their cars.
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2012.
Ryn clearly you don’t have a 90 year old grandmother that still likes to be active once and awhile. I’d love to have her walk with me but I don’t think she can keep up.
Where does it take an hour to get 10 miles? Not here in Tucson, but from that place you came from probably.
Hi sangria,
i double-checked the daily commute from midtown to southwest side that used to take an hour, and you’re right. it’s 10.1 miles. and yes, sometimes it only took 46 minutes.
sad to see, however, you may have perhaps missed the point of the article if you think i am somehow troubled by people who need cars to get around? not sure what your point was bringing up your grandmother, but please give her a hug for me – that’s great she still likes to be active.
thanks for comment!
As someone who grew up in Tucson and moved to RI at the age of 25, I feel the need to point out Tucson’s not-so-great public transportation system, as well as its sprawl. Sure, walking is awesome, and during the six years I’ve lived in Providence, I’ve walked more than I probably ever did during my life in Tucson (the first four years here were spent mostly car-less, and even now that I have a car, I walk two miles round-trip to work, five days a week, weather permitting (and, then, I take the bus)).
But when I lived in Tucson, I simply did not have the option of walking to get from point A to point B, or even taking the bus! Sure, I’d walk around the Congress/4th Ave/University area, but only after driving there from home and parking my car. For those who live in the ‘burbs (like I did, in the Foothills), even just walking to the store can be a miles-long trek (and how much can you really tote home with you, when walking?), and SunTran’s reach doesn’t exactly extend to all corners of Tucson.
I agree with most, if not all, of your points about car ownership and use, but until Tucson becomes a more walking/biking/public transportation-friendly city, having access to a car will remain a necessity for most people.
“Their ties bind strong, perhaps even leading into the realm of an obsession or, worse yet, a veritable addiction.
This addiction runs so deep in their octane veins that some get downright cranky when the mere thought of not being able to drive arises. This was firmly evidenced by several reactions to the idea of making Congress Street through downtown a pedestrian-only zone.
Some would simply not have it, tossing reasons about like confetti. But there may be deeper, underlying issues at work as to why some would feel naked without their cars.”
I got your point Ryn. It can’t be one of those reasons people “toss around like confetti” like 90 year old ladies who are addicted to their oxygen tanks, get downright cranky for no reason, and like to go to old movies at the fox where they might not be able to walk to, but no you’re right, its just a car obsession.
By the way I commuted from downtown to sahuaro national monument every day for a year (no freeway) and it never took me longer than 45 minutes even in the worst of accidents and backed up traffic. Even coming from rita ranch there is I-10. any further out you aren’t in Tucson anymore. I used to drive up to 1-10 from SNM and over to marana and even that didn’t even take an hour.
mary! –
thanks so much for your input. it’s refreshing to read intelligent, well thought-out comments.
you’re so right on urban sprawl and lack of reasonable public transit in tucson, but good to hear you are able to engage in the joy of walking in RI. yaay!
i became addicted to wearing a pedometer some years back, and if you don’t already have one i’d recommend one. it’s cool to watch the step count soar (although i never believe that calorie count on it). thanks again!
“lack of reasonable transit”
I recall you writing a particularly scathing article about the upcoming modern streetcar. The Sun Tran bus system is highly government subsidized too – your big complaint about the ‘shiny new toy.” So I guess only walking or biking constitutes reasonable transit to you?
I know, I may seem like I am picking on you. Truth is I pick on all hypocritical articles short on facts, but peppered with sweeping categorizations written for maximum drama. Just ask Danehy.